Radio tuning system



`1m23,194o. l ,C READ 2,187,986' i RADIO` TUNINGY SYSTEM AFiled Nov. 1 0, 1958 Patented Jan. 23, 1940 PATENT )OFFICE I mimo TUNING SYSTEM Cyrus T. Read, Chicago, 111. i Abpucation'mvember 1o, 193s, serial No. 239,733

Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in radio tuning systems and has for its primary object the provision of an improved system of the char-Y acter indicated which is of simple construction 5 and highly emcient in use. A

Another object ofthe invention is the provision of an improved tuning system of the character indicated so constructed and arranged as to permit of the ready tuning of the system by ll a minimumof manipulations. Y

Another o bject of the invention is the provision of an improved system of the character indicated which may be readily mounted in operative relation with the adjustable parts of the ll system and readily connectedtherewith without disturbing the positions of Vsaid parts.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

'Ihe invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawinglformingtapart of this specication and in which Fig. 1 isa front view oi a tuning system em- Vbodying the invention;

Fig.`2 a rear 'viewof the same;

Fig. V3 a section V taken substantially-vV on 'line 3 3 of Fig. 1 Fig. 4 an enlarged partial detail vyiew of va rotatable adjusting member system; Y.

Fig. 5 a section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and v Fig. 6 a section taken substantially on line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing comprises a suitable support I0 having adjusting shafts I I, I2 and I3 rotatably mounted thereon as shown. Thesaid adjusting v shafts carry the adjustable parts of radio tuning condensers I4 arranged as indicated on the rear side of the support I0 to be connected in Vthe usual way in the radio circuit, theV form of apparatus illustrated being designed and intended mitting systems or circuits. The shafts II, I2 and I3 carry, respectively, operating ordriving pulleys I5, IB and IT secured thereto as shown. An operating belt I8, in the form of a iiexible strip of thin steel, is Wrapped around the pulley I5, anchored thereto by means of a pin I9 and vhas' one of its ends connected with a tension spring 20, as shown. A similar steel belt 2I Ais wrapped around the pulley I6, anchored thereto employed in the I especially for use in conjunction-With radio transby means of a pin 22 and has its end connected with a tension spring 23:" A'.r` 1r`1i1arfsteel belt 24 is wrapped around the pulley Il; and anchored theretofby vmeansl of agpin l25'. "'Another belt 26 is wrapped around said pulleyY I1, anchored'theretoby means' of a pin 2'land" has its end con- 5 nected to a tension spring28'. Byy this arr'angement means are provid'edwhereby the adjustable elementsv of V'condensers-I 4 may be-s'i-multae neously moved oradj'usted byfpulling on the ends of belts I8, 2l, and 24,'a`nd said condenser'ele- 10 Vments automatically returned to'initial positions by the action ofthe tension spr-ings 20,' 23 and 28, as will be readily understood. 1'

Another adjustln'gjsha'ft' 29 vis mounted on the support I0 and providedat'its lrearfportionwith .15 a pair of switcharms 30 cooperating with pairs' 'of electric contacts 3|, v32,and 33 respectively,

for the induction coils .34, .35 and `36 of the tuning system. At its front end the switch shaft y 2 9 carries an operating 'pulley 31 tol whichv anI zal. 'operating belt 38 is anchored-byv a Vpin l39 and Y another spring connected' belt 4U is anchored by pin 4I, the free end of the belt 4 0fbeing con-V nectedas shown With fa' tension spring 42. By

this arrangement, the -switch Vshaftze lwill be '2s' normallyand yieldingly' heldin an initial po- .sition by means of-'the spring 42 'but is free to yield under tensionon the belt 38 so' as toswing the vswitch arms Minto and out ofcont'act vflith the 4diijferent pairsiof coil contacts 3l, 3 2 and 33, 30 las will be readily understood;

' A vertical guide bar or post v43-is` arranged as shown' 'a`t one side of fthe. support' Ill being se- -cured. .thereto by means of` sup`porting screws 44. An operating plunger is slidably mounted kasshown on the guidepost 43, being'slotted as ,shown vin Fii'-v 4 topass freely Vover the screws 44 during sliding operations. 'As `b est shown in' Figs.Y 1 and 4, the ends of thel belts I8, 2|, 38 and 24 iare passed "oyersuitable guide pt illeysv 0 as indicated andV brought intosuperposed relationv against one side"of jthe plunger"45,' saidvv plunger 45 being provided iwithlafpluralityfof cross straps 46,'41; 48and 49 lemltqracing'the ends of said belts as shown. The ends of the 5:

, sp'oridingly depressed through the engagement of Y the cross' straps, 41, 49 and 49 with the stops 59, 5I, 52, and 53 on the ends of said belts. Obviously, when the pressure on push rod 54 is released all of said belts will tend to return to initial positions under the influence of the respective springs 29, 42, 23' and 20, and the adjustable condenser members and switch arms will be correspondingly moved toward initial positions by the action of said springs.

A rotatable control member is mounted, as shown, adjacent the plunger l on a vertical shaft 55 which carries at its lower end, bevel gear 56, meshing with a bevel gear 51 on an adjustng shaft 58 equipped with an adjusting wheel 59 as shown. The said control member comprises a plurality of longitudinally and radially extending guide ribs each having a set of stops 6I slidable thereon and provided with set screws 62 by means of which they may be secured to said ribs in adjusted positions. The arrangement is such that by rotating shaft one of the ribs 60, and the set of stops 62 thereon may be brought into cooperative relationship with the plunger 45 and the stops 59, 5|, 52 and 53 on the ends of the operating belts. Each set of stops on each of the ribs is adjusted thereon for corresponding tuning relations of the condensers I4 and the induction coils 34, 35, and 36 so that when the belt stop's are in engagement with any one of the sets of stops on the ribs B0, the condensers I4 and the induction coils 34, 35, and 36, the tuning-l elements of the radio system, will be properly adjusted and connected for the corresponding frequency of the system as will be readily understood by those skilled in the Locking projections 53 are arranged as shown on the under side of the said control member and a notched lock $4 is slidably mounted on the guide'post 43 on a sleeve 65 which slidablylengages s'aid guide post. A tension spring BSlnormally holds the locking member 64 in locking position as indicated.

In use and in operation the various stops 6l are adjusted on the ribs 60 to correspond with the various tuning relations desired between the condensers I4 and the induction coils 34, 35 and 36. When it is desired to change this tuning relation, the push rod 54 is depressed, thus moving all of the tuning elements to predetermined positions and, at the lower end of said movement, depressing the lock 64 to release the shaft 55 for adjustment. While the pushrod 54 is held depressed, the adjusting wheel 59 may be manipulated to bring the rib 60, carrying the desired stops 6l, into operative position, whereupon the push rod 54 is released. This releases the lock 64 which then rises to lock the shaft 55 in adjusted position and the ends of the adjusting belts rise until their stops engage the said operative stops, thereby limiting the return movements of the tuning elements in proper relation to each other to effect the 'desired tuning of the system, as will be readily understood by those skilled in this art. In this way, by two simple manipulations, any desired tuning relation may be readily and quickly accomplished. By use of the adjusting belts as shown, the tuning attachments may be readily connected to any establishedv radio system because the belts may be readily extended to any desired positions over suitable guide pulleys. The specific form and arrangement of parts is a simple and effective onev for the purpose.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying the invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore do npt wish to be limited to the precise details disclosed, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A radio tuning system comprising a plurality of adjustable tuning elements; means for yieldingly holding said elements in and returning them toward initial positions; iiexible operating means for simultaneously moving said elements to predetermined positions and releasing them for return toward said initial positions; a plurality of sets of adjustable stops for said elements; each set arranged to limit the return of said elements in different tuning relations; and means for simultaneously adjusting said sets of stops to effect different tuning relations of said elements.

2; A radio tuning system comprising a plurality of adjustable tuning elements; means for yieldingly holding said elements in and returning them toward initial positions; iiexible operating means for simultaneously moving said elements to predetermined positions and'releasing them for return toward said initial positions; a plurality of sets of adjustable stops for said elements, each set arranged to limit the return of said elements in different tuning relations; and means, rendered operable by said element moving means for simultantously adjusting said sets of stops to effect different tuning relations of said elements.

3. A radio tuning system comprising a plurality of adjustable tuning elements; rotatable shafts arranged to adjust said elements; means for yieldingly holding said shafts in and returning them toward initia1 positions: flexible operating members connected with said shafts for rotating them to adjust said elements; means for simultaneously actuating said exible members for moving said elements to predetermined positions and releasing them for return toward said initial positionsa stop on each flexible member for limiting its return movement; a plurality of sets of adjustable stops for said stops on said exible members, each set arranged to limit the return of said elements in different tuning relations; and means for simultaneously adjusting said sets of stops to effect different tuning relations of said elements.

4. A radio tuning system comprising a plurality of adjustable tuning elements; rotatable shafts arranged to adjust said elements; means for yieldingly holding said shafts in and returning them toward initial positions; iiexible operating members connected with said shafts for rotating them to adjust said elements; means for simultaneously actuating said fiexible members for moving said elements to predeterminedfpositions and releasing them for return toward said initial positions; a stop on each flexible member for limiting its return movement; a plurality of sets of adjustable stops for said stops on said flexible members, eachY set arranged to limit the return of said elements in different tuning relations; and means, rendered operable by'said element moving means for simultaneously adjusting said elements.

5. A radio tuning system comprising a plurality of adjustable tuning elements; rotatable arenoso .said flexible members, each set arranged to limit the return of said elements in different tuning relations; and means for simultaneously adjusting said sets of stops to eiIect different tuning relations of said elements.

6. A radio tuning system comprising a plurality `of adjustable tuning elements; rotatableA shafts arranged to adjust said elements; springs yieldingly holding said elements in and returning them toward initial positions; iiexible operating members connected with said shaftsfor` rotating them to adjust said elements, the ends of said members being brought together in superposed relation; spaced stops on said iiexible members for limiting their return movements; an actuating plunger slidably embracing the ends of said flexible members and provided with cross straps engaging said stops; a plurality of sets of adjustable stops for engaging thestops on said flexible members, each set arranged yto limit the return of said elements in different tuning relations; means for simultaneously adjusting said sets of stops to ei'fect different tuning relations of said elements; a lock for said sets of stops; and means, operable by said plunger for releasing said lock.

7. A radio tuning system 'comprising a plurality of adjustable tuning elements; rotatable shafts arranged to adjust said elements; springs yieldingly holding said` elements in and returning them toward initial positions; flexible operating members connected with said shafts for rotating them to adjust said elements, the ends of said members being brought together in superposed relation; spaced stops on said flexible members for limiting their return movements; an actuating plunger slidably' embracing the ends of said flexible members and provided with cross straps engaging said stops; a rotatable member having a plurality of longitudinal peripheral guides thereon; a set of stops adjustable on each guide arranged to be rotated into operative relation with the stops on said flexible members to limit the return of said elements in different tuning relations: and a releasable lock for said rotatable member.

8. A radio tuning system comprising a plurality of adjustable tuning elements; rotatable shafts arranged to adjust said elements; springs yieldingly holding said elements in and returning them toward initial positions; flexible operating members connected with said shafts for rotating them to adjust said elements` the ends of .said members being brought together in superposed relation; spaced stops on said flexible members for limiting their return movements; an actuating plunger slidably embracing the ends of said flexible members and provided with cross straps engaging said stops; a rotatable member having a plurality of longitudinal vperipheral guides thereon; a set of stops adjustable on each guide arranged to be rotatedinto operative relation with the stops on said flexible members to limit the return of said elements in different tun- 10% ing relations; a releasable lock for said rotatablemember; and means operable by said plunger, for releasing said lock. e

9. A radio tuning system comprising aplurality of adjustable tuning elements; rotatable shafts arranged to adjust said elements; springs yieldingly holding said elements in and returning them toward initial positions; flexible belt `like operating lmembers connected with said shafts for rotating them to adjust said elements, the ends of said members being brought together in superposed relation; spaced stops .on said exible members for limiting their return movements; a longitudinally slidable actuating plunger slidably embracing the ends of said'iiexible members and provided with cross straps engaging said stops; a rotatable member arranged adjacent said plunger and provided with ra plurality of radiating ribs having their outer ends `formed into longitudinal peripheral guides; a set of stops longitudinally adjustable on each of said ribs and arranged to be moved in and out of operative relation with the stops on said exible members to limit the return of said elements in different tuning relations; and a releasable lock for said rotatable member. j

10. A radio tuning system comprising a'plurality of adjustable tuningy elements; rotatable shafts arranged to adjust said elements; springs yieldingly holding said elements in and returning them toward initial positions; flexible belt 'like operating members connected with said shafts for rotating them to adjust said elements, the ends of said members being brought together in superposed relation; spaced stops on said exible members for 'limiting their return. movements; a longitudinally slidable actuating plunger slidably embracing the ends vof said flexible y members and provided with cross straps engaging said stops; a rotatable member arranged adjacent said plunger and `provided with a piurality of radiating ribs having their outer ends formed into longitudinal peripheral guides; a set of stops` longitudinally adjustable on` each` of said ribs and arranged to be moved in and out of operative relation with the stops on said flexible members to limit the return of said elements in different tuning relations; a plurality of spaced locking projections on the end of said rotatable "i member adapted and arranged to lock the same in its different positions of adjustment; and a spring held lock arranged to releasably engage said locking projections and adapted and arranged to be engaged by said plunger at the end of its operative movement to release said rotatable member for adjustments thereof.'A

crans '1'. READ. 

